How to make your Reservation

After selecting your tour and departure date, simply complete and submit the tour planning remittance payment via this invoice, as well as any provided pay link for total flight costs. SouthAmerica.travel accepts wires, bank transfers , ACH (U.S.), check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner’s Club, JCB, Discover, PayPal (USD only) and Bitcoin. The initial Tour Planning Remittance is generally 20% of the land package price. Minimum USD 250 per person. A higher remittance amount may be required for certain customized itineraries, lodges and cruises, special events such as Carnival, or for securing special flight arrangements. Some flight tickets and special non-refundable land arrangements (such as Carnival and New Year’s accommodation) may not be paid by credit card. See also note in International Flights section below. Please make your reservations as early as possible since many flights are completely filled 3 to 6 months before departure.

Final Payment

Final payment is due 45 days in advance of the tour. These payments are due in our office or submitted online 45 days prior to the departure date. If reservations are made less than 45 days prior to departure, payment in full is required at the time of booking. If final payments are not received on time, SouthAmerica.travel may cancel the reservation and invoke the cancellation fee.

Cancellations, Changes & Refunds

If cancellation is received in writing by SouthAmerica.travel not less than 45 days prior to departure, your payment will be refunded, less 20% (minimum USD 250) per person of the full package price, as well as any non-refundable items. If you must withdraw or make a change 45 days or less prior to departure, the following fees will apply:

45 Days to 31 Days: prior to departure 35% of total
30 Days to 15 Days: prior to departure 50% of total
14 Days to Day of Departure: 90% of total (100% thereafter)

Additionally, USD 175 or more may be assessed for changes in air travel bookings after tickets have been issued, if change is allowed by carrier, in accordance with the airline’s and issuer’s change and cancellation policies, and depending on the booking class of the ticket. Fee assessments and changes are the responsibility of the ticketing agent and airlines. Certain items (including but not limited to Cruises, Lodges, Tickets, Carnival & New Year’s hotel deposits) are non-refundable and therefore excluded from the refund policy. See note on Travel Insurance below.

Invoices in Your Currency

The currency of tourism in South America has historically been the US Dollar. SouthAmerica.travel’s financial system is therefore set to invoice in USD, however we are happy to send you an invoice in your local currency. The exchange rate we use is based on the daily exchange rate at XE.com + 1%. Paying in your local currency avoids the additional 2 – 3 % “cross-border fee” charged on most credit card transactions, and is therefore beneficial to most clients.

Final payment: SouthAmerica.travel will re-calculate non-USD invoices with the daily exchange rate at the time of your final payment, which, as exchange rates fluctuate, may be higher or lower than the rate of your initial tour planning remittance. Optionally, SouthAmerica.travel can lock in your final payment at the same exchange rate. If this option is chosen, clients paying in a currency other than EUR, GBP, SEK, DKK, NOK or CHF must make the final payment by wire or bank transfer to our currencies account.

Surface Travel & Sightseeing and Land-Only Tours

Ground arrangements may include inter-city travel by train, plane, yacht, boat, schooner, or air-conditioned car, van or motor coach as per the itinerary. If you wish to make independent flight arrangements, you may still reserve the land portion of a tour.

Flights

Your air transport is a contract made with the airline through the ticketing agent, which is independent of SouthAmerica.travel. Listed prices for flights are estimates only, based on best space availability, and are not guaranteed. SouthAmerica.travel works with various agents to secure the lowest fares available. Tickets may be issued by a 3rd party consolidator directly. The airlines hold a limited number of seats at listed prices; other fares are negotiated at the time of booking to get the best possible fare. For early bookings, we may be able to negotiate a lower price. In most cases, the airlines require immediate payment at the time of booking to hold seats on airpasses. SouthAmerica.travel or its agents will inform you about this when the situation arises. Often least cost bookings require immediate payment, in full, and are non-refundable. Requests for specific airlines and/or seats are accepted as preferences only and cannot be guaranteed. All airline seat assignments and frequent flyer programs are under the control of the respective airlines. Domestic overnights due to flight scheduling are the responsibility of the Traveler. We suggest you contact the airlines directly regarding seat assignments and special meals.

Taxes & Fees

If not collected in advance by the airline, airport taxes must be paid by the Traveler at check-in. Please call the airline in advance if unclear whether airport taxes are included in your fare. Entrance Fees to National Parks and other destinations are set by the respective government, and often change without advance notice. The Traveler is responsible for any changes in fees made after initial booking.

Visas & Immunizations

Visas and/or reciprocity fees are required in advance for North Americans and Australians traveling to Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia (U.S. only), and may be required for other nationals. Information regarding visa requirements for all countries can be found at our Tourist Visa Information Page or at www.state.gov

Meals

Many foods in South America will be familiar to North Americans and Europeans, and include many additional – and amazing – flavors! Please inform your tour director or guide of special dietary requirements at your first meeting; s/he will do his/her best to arrange for other meals.

Hotels

Hotels reserved for our tours are rated as First Class or above, and are indicated by the appendage **** in the itinerary. The few exceptions (generally, small hotels and pousadas (B&B’s)) have been chosen for location and/or atmosphere. These hotels are clean, comfortable and located to best facilitate guided sightseeing of the area. If, for any reason, it becomes necessary to utilize other hotels, they will be of a similar or higher standard. Where not, compensation will be provided. Triple room accommodations are available on a limited basis, sometimes at a reduced price. Triple rooms usually consist of a twin-bedded room with an additional folding bed or cot for the third person. They may not be comfortable for three adults.

Small Groups

In cases of groups of less than 10 passengers, intercity transport may be on regularly scheduled first class intercity coaches or planes. In such cases, a guide/driver will escort you from your hotel/sightseeing to the coach station or airport and assist with check-in. Another qualified guide will await your arrival at your destination, and will assist with transfer to your hotel. Dates for tours are guaranteed; however, should a group consist of only 1 passenger, Single Traveler fees may apply.

Tour Price Does Not Include

Beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary, as well as desserts at barbeque (all-you-can-eat) “Rodizios”; personal expenses including passport & visa fees, optional sightseeing tours, traditional end of the tour gratuity to your Tour Director or City/Sightseeing Guide (generally USD 3-5 p.p./per day) and Driver (generally USD 2-3 p.p./per day), tips to local city guides, Travel Insurance (see note) & other items of a personal nature.

Travel Insurance

To protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances, it is a condition of booking one of SouthAmerica.travel’s tours that travelers have an inclusive travel insurance for the full duration of their travel arrangements including illness, injury, death, loss of baggage and personal items, cancellation and curtailment. Such insurance policies may be available from your Travel Consultant, insurance broker and other sources. In addition some providers offer an inclusive travel insurance that also covers “cancel for any reason” (see Travel Insurance for South America for a variety of options).

Contractual Terms and Obligations

SouthAmerica.travel LLC, dba www.SouthAmerica.travel, hereafter referred to as SouthAmerica.travel, 1904 Third Avenue Suite 930, Seattle WA USA, acts solely in the capacity of an agent for suppliers in arranging for travel-related services that are not directly supplied by SouthAmerica.travel (such as air and surface transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, transfers, railway journeys, schooner cruises, etc.). As agent, SouthAmerica.travel shall not be responsible for breach of contract or any intentional or careless actions or omissions on the part of such suppliers which result in any loss, damage, delay or injury to you or your travel companions or group members. In addition, SouthAmerica.travel and its suppliers shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases, local laws, climactic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside SouthAmerica.travel’s control. Traveler assumes complete and full responsibility for, and hereby releases SouthAmerica.travel and its suppliers from any duty of, checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of each destination, and all safety or security conditions at such destinations, during the length of the proposed travel. For information concerning possible dangers at international destinations, contact the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department. For medical information and requirements, contact the Public Health Service. For tax information and holiday/museum schedules contact the respective tourist office. By embarking upon his/her travel, the traveler voluntarily assumes all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected. Traveler is hereby warned of such risks and is advised to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against them. SouthAmerica.travel reserves the right to withdraw any tour or to make any change in the tour, with or without notice, that SouthAmerica.travel determines is advisable, including substitution of accommodations or transportation. If any tour must be withdrawn prior to its beginning date, SouthAmerica.travel’s liability is limited to a refund of monies, if any, received by SouthAmerica.travel for services not provided. Further, SouthAmerica.travel may decline to accept or retain any person on the tour at anytime. Should a passenger’s conduct become incompatible with the smooth operation of the tour or adversely affect the safety and enjoyment of the other passengers, then the tour membership will be withdrawn and SouthAmerica.travel shall be under no liability to such person. Passenger’s enrollment and payment for a tour shall constitute the passenger’s offer to take the tour pursuant to all of the terms set forth above and in our online and printed catalog, which terms cannot be varied except in writing by an officer of SouthAmerica.travel. A binding contract shall exist only after SouthAmerica.travel has accepted the offer by sending a confirmation to the passenger, either in printed or electronic form. If there is any dispute between the passenger and SouthAmerica.travel, the parties will submit to mediation by a mediator chosen by both parties and, if not resolved by mediation, then by binding arbitration by one arbitrator chosen by the parties, or if no choice can be made, then by an arbitrator chosen by a federal judge for the State of Washington. All proceedings shall occur in the State of Washington, and laws of the State of Washington shall apply. The passenger agrees to this exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the State of Washington for resolving all disputes. SouthAmerica.travel strives to arrange all services to the traveler’s expectations. Should a service supplier not deliver to the traveler’s expectations, SouthAmerica.travel and the service supplier must be notified immediately as to allow for the opportunity to remedy the situation. Should the situation not change to the traveler’s satisfaction, SouthAmerica.travel must receive notification of the dispute in writing (e-mail or fax) within 24 hours. Transportation companies, airlines, etc., are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board planes, transportation or conveyances. The passenger contracts in use by the airlines or transportation companies when used shall constitute the sole contract between the airline, transportation company and passenger or purchaser of this tour and SouthAmerica.travel assumes no responsibility in this connection. SouthAmerica.travel is not responsible for typographical errors and all prices shown are in U.S. Dollars. Prices in other currencies are at that day’s exchanage to the US Dollar and may not reflect your final price. Cancelation terms and booking conditions published online at time of reservation shall take precedence.